Can You Freeze Rhubarb? 

Last updated on July 23rd, 2022 at 07:03 am

Freezing vegetables can be a great money saver. If you plant your own vegetables, you can save your harvest in the freezer until you’re ready to use it. 

If there’s a great sale on vegetables at the store, you can buy in bulk and freeze what you can’t use now for later. 

However, not all vegetables freeze the same. Some vegetables will lose their crispness once they are exposed to cold temperatures. 

What about rhubarb? Can you freeze rhubarb? Will it still taste as good after having been frozen? 

Rhubarb can be frozen. All you need to do is cut it into pieces and freeze it. If stored properly, rhubarb can last in your freezer for up to a year. 

If your rhubarb has been in the freezer for too long or if it’s been exposed to air in the freezer, ice crystals may start to form and your rhubarb might get freezer burn. 

Make sure that you properly seal your rhubarb in the storage containers or bags to help prevent the freezer burn from happening.

What Is The Best Way To Freeze Rhubarb? 

Freezing your vegetables is a great way to make sure they never go to waste. If you end up purchasing too many, you can freeze them and use them at a later date. 

Rhubarb can be used in so many different ways but is typically best when cooked with sugar. What is the best way to preserve your rhubarb in the freezer? 

Remove The Leaves And Trim The Ends

The leaves of a rhubarb have a compound in them that can release a toxin. If you leave the leaves on, it can ruin your rhubarb and make it toxic for you to eat. 

If you have purchased your rhubarb from the store, it will most likely already have the leaves trimmed off. If you are growing rhubarb in your garden, do not skip this important step of removing the rhubarb leaves. 

Wash And Dry The Rhubarb Stalk

Even if you have purchased your rhubarb from the grocery store instead of picking it from a garden, you should wash your rhubarb. This step helps to get rid of any dirt, bugs, and pesticide that may be left on your rhubarb. 

Cut The Rhubarb

Precut your rhubarb into the sizes that you will need for baking. You can choose to make big slices or just tiny slices depending on your cooking intentions with the rhubarb.

Flash Freeze The Rhubarb

After you have cut the rhubarb into pieces, place the pieces on a baking sheet. Make sure that none of your rhubarb pieces are touching. 

Flash freezing allows your rhubarb to stay in the freezer without clumping too much together. Remove after a few hours or once the pieces are frozen solid. 

Transfer The Rhubarb Pieces To A Freezer Safe Container

After you have flash frozen the pieces, you can remove them from the baking tray and place them into an air-tight container. You can choose a container or also a zip-lock bag. 

The rhubarb, if stored properly, can last in your freezer for up to a year. 

Does Rhubarb Get Mushy After Freezing? 

While freezing may seem like a great way to preserve food longer, cold temperatures can have an effect on the food as well. Vegetables tend to freeze well until they are thawed. 

Once thawed, you can see that your vegetables are no longer crisp and are actually kind of mushy. Does rhubarb become mushy after it has been frozen? 

Rhubarb does become mushy after being thawed. If you plan on using your rhubarb in various dishes, it is best to use the rhubarb frozen. 

If you allow the rhubarb to defrost before using it, it will lose its texture and crispness. 

What Is The Best Way To Store Rhubarb? 

Rhubarb is a very tart vegetable. The best way to enjoy rhubarb is by adding sugar. While adding sugar may lessen its value as a vegetable, it still has plenty of health benefits to offer. 

If strawberry rhubarb pie is on the menu for dessert, how should you store your rhubarb? Is it best left on the counter? Do you put it in the fridge? 

What is the proper way to store rhubarb? 

For short term storage you can put your rhubarb into the fridge. If you need to store your rhubarb for a long time then the freezer is best. 

Rhubarb can last in your fridge for a month if properly prepared. Gather your rhubarb stalks together and lightly wrap them in foil. You do not want the stalks to be wrapped together air-tight, so leave the foil a little loose. 

The rhubarb should last in your fridge for about a month with this method. 

Why Is Rhubarb Good For You?  

Not every food we eat has health benefits. Sometimes, we can stretch the health benefits in our imagination. For example some people might say that ice cream can be great for you because it contains dairy. 

Others will say that lasagna can be good for you because it has protein. While not all foods may be great for you, you can have balance by adding healthy foods to your diet. 

One of these healthy foods is rhubarb. So what health benefits does rhubarb have to offer? 

Does rhubarb still remain healthy after you’ve added all the sugar to make it sweeter? Since rhubarb is tart and needs sugar to be tolerated, is rhubarb all that good for you? 

Even though you may need sugar to stomach the tart taste of rhubarb, you can still receive some health benefits that come from eating rhubarb. 

• Rhubarb can help lower your cholesterol. Eating rhubarb stalks has been linked to helping lower cholesterol. Rhubarb is very helpful in reducing LDL and bad cholesterol. 

• Rhubarb helps aid in healthy digestion. Rhubarbs are rich in both fiber and tannins. This can help prevent constipation and promote a healthy digestive system. 

• Rhubarb can help strengthen your bones. Rhubarb stalks are filled with vitamin K. This is a key nutrient that aids in bone health. Eating rhubarb can help lower your chances of fractures or broken bones. 

• Rhubarbs can help brighten your skin. The antioxidants that are in Rhubarb help support collagen production. Collagen production aids in firmer and brighter skin. 

• Rhubarb can relieve inflammation. Rhubarb stalks contain anthocyanins, this is what gives the rhubarb its red color. Eating foods that are rich in anthocyanins can also help relieve inflammation. 

Final Thoughts

The next time you plan on using rhubarb for dessert, you can plan ahead and purchase plenty of rhubarb during harvest season. This way, you can freeze your rhubarb and eat it whenever you are in the mood for it. 

Rhubarb can last in your fridge for a month or in your freezer for up to a year.